Folding check cover



- Patented Sept. 30, 1941 FOLDING CHECK COVER Fred Humphrey and Adam Krieger, Denver, 0010., assignors to The Pass Book and Check Cover Company, Denver, (3010., a corporation of Colorado Application December 26, 1939, Serial No. 310,969

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding pocket check covers.

As is common knowledge, banks ordinarily provide' for their customers folding check covers that readily may be carried in the pocket or in a purs or a handbag. Filler pads of blank checks are inserted in such covers for use by the depositors, and when such a pad of blank checks is used up, a new filler pad is inserted in the cover. Thus, the cover should be well constructed to give a considerable life of service.

The manufacture and sale of such check covers is highly competitive, particularly in view of the fact that th banks usually give such check covers to their customers as part of their service without charge. There is an insistent and persistent demand for less expensive check covers and also for covers that will last longer in the hands of the patrons of the banks.

' It is an object of this invention to improve the quality of folding check covers and at the same time materially reduce the cost of producing them.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates in plan, a blank cut from suitable material as the initial step in manufacturing a folding check cover according to this invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the blank shown in Figure l, as it appears after complete manufacture, but before folding;

Figure 3 illustrates th cover shown in Figure 2, in central longitudinal section, after a filler pad of blank checks has been, inserted and the cover folded into carrying position;

' Figure 4 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale, illustrating means on a typical filler pad of blank checks, for attaching the same to the cover;

Figure 5 illustrates an early step in the production of a check cover made according to a modified form of this invention;

Figure 6 illustrates the check cover of Figure 5, as it approaches completion; and

Figure '7 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the check cover shown in Figures 5 and 6, and drawn on a larger scale for clarity, as it would appear-in its folded carrying position.

, It is manifest that, in illustrating the check covers that are the subject of the present application for patent, the sectional views are necessarily diagrammatic in nature for the sake of clearly illustrating the actual relationship of the various components in the improved construction.

Referring to Figur l, a piece of suitable material, such as leather, or imitation leather, such as .Fabkote, Pajco, Fabrikoid, Keratol, or like fibre material is die-cut and scored in one single operation. This cut blank is designated as a whole by reference character l2 and is provided with laterally extending integral wings l3 and Il, a tongue I5 and a slot l6. The end of the blank l2 that is opposite the tongu l5 may be out on a concave curve as at H, and the material is scored across the wings l3 and H as indicated in broken lines at I8-l8.

Next, the end portion of the blank that is opposite the tongue I5 is folded over as shown in Figure 2, bringing th end I! inwardly toward the center to form a pocket Ila. This pocket may be sewed as indicated. It would only be necessary to stitch the pocket along its opposite sides, but in order to save raising the sewing machine from the work, it is more economical to continue the stitching from one side across the end and along the other side as indicated in the drawing.

The wings l3 and I4 are thenfolded inwardly at the scores l8 and I8 to provide means to cooperate with a tab 20 ordinarily made of thin cardboard or the like, and which is attached to the back of a typical filler pad of blank checks.

Figure 4 illustrates the relationship of a typical filler pad of blank checks I9 to its attachment tab 20 which is fastened to the bound end of the checks as at 2|.

The extreme economy, simplicity and durability of this check cover is at once obvious. In use, the attachment tab 20 of the filler check pad I9 is inserted between the inwardly folded wings l3 l4 and the main body of the cover l2. The pocket Fla is provided for carrying a small pass book. The cover and checks are then folded upon themselves as illustrated in Figure 3 and the tongue [5 is inserted in the slot Hi to complete the closure. Important economies are ffected in this construction because only one piece of material is used and it is completely out and scored in a single operation. The metal fastening that has heretofore been commonly used for closing such a check cover, is entirely eliminated, and since this is a one-piece construction, there are no separate parts to become loosened from each other, which is a common objection to many folding check covers.

Separation of different parts of a folding check cover has been commonly caused by the fact that glue which is usually used to join such parts, does notstick well to Fabrikoid or other similar material having a Pyralin base when two pieces of such material are brought together. This situation is further aggravated by the fact that a folding check cover must endureconsiderable wear and tear in frequent opening and closing and the general bending and flexing associated with carrying and handling a flexible cover of this character. Even when pieces of material, such as Fabrikoid or other material having a Pyralin base are sized before gluing, much trouble has been encountered by separation of the glued parts.

The materials hereinbefore suggested as suitable for this one-piece check cover construction check filler, and its angular relationship to the Due to inherent stiffness in the tab 29 onthechecks 19, a wedging or gripping eifectis produced when the tab is positioned under the inwardly folded wings l3-l4', as shown in broken lines in Figure 2, thus holding said wings in their folded position and holding the blank check filler in position in the cover. Heretofore it has. been common practice to provide a pocket to receive the tab 20 of the check filler, "and obviously the inwardly folded wings |3-l4 are more economical in production cost. 1

It has been common practice to manufacture a'- folding check cover by cutting boards, i. e., carboard or the like, to the proper shape and size for reinforcement purposes, and then covering these boards with a jacket or cover'on the outside and finally lining the boards on the in-- sideof the cover assembly with a separate piece of material. These jackets or covers and the linings are usually made of a cloth-like material having a Pyralin base and may have an exterior surface simulating leather. These covers and linings are usually quite thin and flexible with reference to the reinforcing boards as is common knowledge in theart.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of the present invention, the object of which also is to improve the quality, lengthen the life, and cheapen the cost of producing a folding check cover, using the boards and jacket or cover system of construction.-

thickness of'jacket material all in one piece to successfully withstand the wear and tear of repeated folding and opening of the check book. This construction is well illustrated in Figure 7. If the edges'corresponding to 22a are merely slightly lapped inwardly over the reinforcing boards as is common practice, and then a separate piece of lining material used to line the cover assembly, then separation is very liable to occur along the hinge or folding portion of the cover assembly at 2B.

The remaining edges of the jacket 22 may be folded inwardly to cover the tongue 23 and the remaining projecting portion of the board 24 as shown in Figure 6. This tongue portion of the assembly may be lined to improve its appearance, if desired, but by this construction the liner is eliminated from the main body of the cover assembly where it is most likely to separate and cause trouble.

Cuts or slits I22 in the jacket material 22, Figure 5, may be provided to facilitate thefolding and gluing of the jacket to elfect the results illustrated in Figure 6.. It will be understood that the jacket or cover 22 preferably is cut from rather thin but tough material so that laps in certain places are not particularly objectionable. v It will be manifest that the side angular portions of the jacket 22 adjacent the tongue board 23 may be folded inwardly over said board 23, after which the extreme left end portion as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, is folded inwardly over the board. The edge 220 at the other end of the 1 jacket 22 may be tucked into the open-end pocket Referencecharacter 2'2 denotes a blank jacket cut from suitable material upon which are glued reinforcing boards 23 to form the closing tongue, folded board 24 to form the pass book pocket and folded board 25 to form a closure pocket to receive the locking tongue 23. Glue will successfully unite Pyralin base materials with boards, but considerable trouble has been experienced in uniting Pyralin material with other Pyralin material by means of glue, as hereinbefore pointed out. Therefore, the jacket or cover 22 is cut to a size and shape permitting edges 22a to be folded inwardly over boards 24 and 25 to a butt or lap joint,. a lap joint being preferred. The entire jacket is glued to the boards wherever it contacts them.

, The edges 22a are joined as shown in Figure 6 along the approximate center line of the inner surface of the cover assembly, the ends 22b are folded in along the edge 24a of the board 24 to complete this pocket construction, and the edge 22c'is folded in around the edges 25a and 25b of the folded board 25 to complete that pocket. Since the turned-in edge of the jacket 220 is a continuous piece from joint 22a clear around the edges 25a and 25b and back again to the joint 2211, the pocket thus formed by the open ends of the board 25 is exceptionally well reinforced against tearing open, the importance of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter. Since the outside jacket 22 covers the entire outside surface of the cover assembly and is brought over on the inside to a joint 22a, no separate lining on the insideof the coverassembly is necessary.

This is another important improvement because the main hinge or folding portion 26 of the finished cover is thus provided with a double around and along the edges 25a and 25b of the folded board 25, without any cuts or slits, in order to provide a continuous turned-in strengthening reinforcement for the outer edge of the pocket thus formed, extending from lapped or joined edges 22a clear around the pocket and back to said joined edges 22a. 7

This folding or tucking-in of edge 220 is easily accomplished after the edges 22a of the jacket 22 are brought together, thus temporarily forming a tube-like element surrounding the boards, whereupon the edge 220 may be tucked in to. the inner surfaces of the folded board 25 along the edges 25a and 25?) thereof, the entire inner surface of the jacket 22 having been first covered with glue so that the various components will adhere and remain in their finished relative positions. There is suiiicient pliability to all of these parts to permit such manipulation and this is the procedure followed in producing these check covers.

The open-end pocket thus formed by the folded board 25 and the jacket 22 is exceptionally well strengthened adjacent its outer open end by the turned-in edge 220 of the jacket 22, and is particularly so constructed to receive the tapered tongue formed at the opposite end of the assembly, and comprising tongue-forming board 23 plus certain portions of the jacket 22 glued thereonto. This tapered tongue is of a size to wedge securely into said pocket when the cover is folded to its closed position along central hinge portion 26. This wedging engagement of the tongue in the pocket holds or locks the assembly conveniently in its closed position, but the wedging of the tongue in the pocket would be inclined to tear the pocket open where it engages said pocket, were it not for the strengthening and reinforcing effect of the jacket 22 turned in along the open edgeof the pocket in a unitary inwardly extendingfold, over edges 25a and 25b of the folded stiffening board 25. I

After the jacket 22 is thus glued all around to the boards 23, 24 and 25, a slot 2'! is cut through the jacket and the inner layer of the folded pocket board 25 as clearly shown in Figures 6 and '7.

In use, the tab 29 of the typical blankcheck filler pad is inserted through the slot 21 to hold the pad in the cover. Referring particularly to Figure '7, the relationship of the blank check filler pad readily may be understood, but it has been omitted from the drawing so that the actual construction of the cover, which is the subject of this invention, may be more clearly shown.

After the blank checks are in place, the cover and the checks are folded upon themselves as shown in Figure '2, the board 24 providing a pocket 24b for the reception of a small pass book or the like and the folded board 25 forming a pocket 250, the main purpose of which is to receive locking tongue 23 to hold the folding cover in its folded or closed position. The attachment tab 20 of the check pad filler is also inserted through slot 21 into pocket 250.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the open edges of the pocket 250 are lined all around inside and outside with one continuous portion of the jacket 22, thus providing all around the open end of said pocket two thicknesses of the jacket, which, of course, greatly reinforces the ends 25a and 25b of the folded board 25.

This pocket 25c-must stand up under considerable wear and tear because the locking tongue 23 is tapered to provide a secure friction fit in the open end of the pocket 250. This Wedging friction fit of the closing tongue 23 in the pocket 250 would tend to tear out the edges of the pocket if it were not thoroughly, strongly and inseparably constructed and reinforced with the double thickness of the jacket material. It is manifest that the closing tongue 23 is inserted into and Withdrawn from the pocket 250 a good many times during the life of such a check book. The slot 21 requires no such reinforcement, because the attaching tab 20 of the check filler is inserted and withdrawn only once during the life of each filler. It is, therefore, not subjected to anywhere near as much wear and tear as is the open end of the pocket 250.

One open edge of the pocket 24b is also reinforced by the turned-in edge 22b of the jacket along the edge 2% of the folded board 24. This is an improved feature, but the pocket 24b is not subjected to the same tearing strains nor to as much Wear and tear as is the tonguereceiving open end of the pocket 25c.

The advance in the art in the form of this invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 includes the provision of a jacket that extends clear around the cover assembly to an inner central joint, thus eliminating the usual liner along the main portion of the cover and providing an exceptionally strong, lasting, main hinge along which the cover may be folded and opened; a substantial pocket for the reception of the pass book; a slot to cooperate with the attaching tab on the blank check filler; and an unusually strong, reinforced pocket to cooperate with a locking tongue at the opposite end of the cover assembly to hold the check book in its closed position.

Obviously, this construction is an improvement, in that a better looking and longer lasting check cover is provided and novel means for holding the cover closed are also provided, thus simplifying and cheapening the cost of construction and eliminating the usual metal friction button closure heretofore in common use for this purpose.-

The form of this invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2' and 3 and also the form illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7 tend to satisfy the insistent and persistent demand for a more economical and longer lasting folding check cover. It is believed check covers made according to this disclosure will last under ordinary conditions of use, four times to five times as long as common types of check covers.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a folding check cover comprising a one-piece jacket, a tongue-forming board covered by said jacket, a folded board providing a pocket for a pass book or the like and covered by saidjacket, and another folded board providing another pocket to receive the tongue, the jacket being glued entirely around said folded boards and turned in along. an open edge of the last said pocket.

2. As an article of manufacture, a folding check cover comprising a one-piece jacket, a tongue-forming board covered by said jacket, a folded board providing a pocket for a pass book or the like and covered by said jacket, and another folded board providing another pocket to receive the tongue, the jacket being glued entirely around the last said folded board and turned in along the open edge of the pocket formed thereby, and a slot cut through the jacket and the inner side of the last said pocket to receive an attachment tab of a check filler pad.

3. As an article of manufacture, a folding check cover of the character disclosed, distinguished by an open-ended pocket reinforced with boards and covered with a jacket whose edge is turned in all along the open end of said pocket, and a tapered locking tongue at the opposite end of the cover shaped and adapted to enter said open-ended pocket and to effect a wedging fit therein when the check cover is folded upon itself.

4. As an article of manufacture, a folding check cover having a one-piece jacket and a folded board forming an open-end pocket covered by said one-piece jacket, the jacket being turned in along said open end of the pocket.

5. As an article of manufacture, a folding check cover of the character disclosed, distinguished by an open-ended pocket reinforced with boards and covered with a jacket whose edge is turned in along the open end of said pocket, and a locking tongue at the opposite end of the cover shaped and adapted to be inserted in said open-ended pocket when the check cover is folded upon itself.

6. In a folding check book cover, the improvement which comprises an open-end pocket stiffened by cardboard or the like, the edges of said cardboard being strengthened and reinforced all around said pocket open end, inside and outside by a single piece of covering material.

7. In a folding check book cover, the improvement which comprises a pocket stiffened by cardboard or the like, the edges of said cardboard being strengthened and reinforced all around said pocket open-end inside and outside by a single piece of covering material, there being a slot through a side of the pocket for receiving the tab of a filler pad of blank checks.

FRED HU'NIPRHEY. ADAM KRIEGER' 

